Brian Ashcraft

Japanese Theme Park Offers Fake Instagram Friends

This summer, if you are thinking about which theme park in Japan to visit, Hirakata Park in Osaka might be a good choice- especially if you’re going alone and have no friends. According to My Game News Flash, Hirakata Park has a new service that’s for “SNS glory.” Called “shunkan furenzu” (瞬間フレンズ) or “momentary friends,” these…

A Night Out. Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. By Chris M. Hatcher. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line! 

Japan’s Video Game Bars Are In Danger

A string of arrests has put the future of Japan’s popular “video game bars” into serious doubt. I press record. “Just by doing this interview,” I say, “to a certain degree you’re really putting a target on your back.” It’s important Matt Bloch understands this before we proceed, especially after the recent video game bar…

Track: Fast Car (Cover/Live) | Artist: Khalid | Album: NA (BBC Live Lounge) Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

As revealed earlier this year, the Famicom Mini is going back into production. And now we know when it’s hitting store shelves. This week! Sales resumed of the little Famicom resumed yesterday in Japan.

Cosplayer Job Site Launches In Japan

It’s called “Cos Job,” and the new recruitment site is aimed at cosplayers and the businesses that want to hire them. As Anime Anime notes, the site is run by cosplay social-networking site Cosplay Archive, Cos Job lists help wanted ads for cosplay models as well as event companions and staff. There are also listings…

Tea Fields. Wazuka, Kyoto Prefecture. By Tugi | Instagram | Twitter JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line! 

Track: The Cedar Room | Artist: Doves | Album: The Last Broadcast Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Appealing To Old Anime Fans In Japan

As Japan continues to gray, one thing is inevitable: anime fans are also getting older. That’s why Bandai is teaming up with an elderly goods maker for anime-themed canes Via website 1up Jouhoukyoku, have a look: In the coming years, products like these won’t be anomalies Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture,…

First Look At Bleach Creator’s New One-Shot Manga

Tite Kubo, best known for Bleach, has a new manga. It’s one-shot comedy manga called Burn the Witch In Japanese, the teaser site has the words “witch,” “dragon” and “reverse London.” That last one could also mean “rebirth London” as リバース (ribaasu) refers to “reverse” or its secondary meaning “rebirth.” Bleach, which debuted in 2001,…

Ikoma Plateau. Kobayashi, Miyazaki. By Michael Markofski. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line! 

Track: She’s A Rainbow | Artist: The Rolling Stones | Album: Their Satanic Majesties Request Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Creators Drop Lawsuit Over Fortnite

Last month, Kotaku reported that South Korea’s PUBG Corp., the studio behind PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, was suing Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, for copyright infringement. PUBG Corp. has now withdrawn its lawsuit. Earlier this week, PUBG Corp. sent a withdrawal letter to Epic Games, the studio behind Fortnite. According to Bloomberg, the court case is…

Level-5 announced Yokai Watch World, a Google Map based AR game filled with Yokai Watch characters. That sounds familiar! The game is available for download today in Japan for iOS and Android.

An Abandoned Village. 田舎, Japan. By Lee Chapman | Tokyo Times JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!   

Track: Commoner Vs. Kamina | Artist: Richie Branson | Album: From The Underground To The Stars Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Cat Bus From Totoro Spotted In Japan

Imagine you are driving down the street in Hiroshima and you see a Cat Bus from My Neighbor Totoro making its way down the sidewalk. Like so This is not actually a cat, nor is it a bus. It’s some sort of bicycle-type contraption Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you…

The Hello Kitty Bullet Train Is Real And Incredible 

Dreams do come true! Last month, there was only concept art for the Hello Kitty bullet train. And now, here is the actual train. Have an inside look. I hope you like pink, because Hello Kitty sure does. Just imagine this passing you. The train will begin service between Osaka and Hakata on June 30.…

Chocobo Popcorn Bucket. Universal Studios Japan, Osaka. By Lexi | Seoul Searching JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line! 

Track: Cemetry Gates (Live) | Artist: The Smiths | Album: N/A Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.